Hardy Brown College Prep is Enrolling Students

A new college preparatory charter school in San Bernardino is now enrolling students in Kindergarten and grades first, second, third and sixth.

Local San Bernardino parents joined with Sacramento-based Fortune School of Education to bring the new school to San Bernardino focused on improving academic performance for African American students and increasing college going rates.

Approved unanimously by the San Bernardino City Unified School Board last September, the K-8 charter school named for Black Voice News publisher, Hardy Brown is on schedule to open its doors August 18, 2010, with 235 students.

Enrollment continues until April 15, 2010, the deadline for student applications.

Danny Tillman, school board vice president, made the motion to approve Hardy Brown College Prep.

“I have a lot of excitement only because of the experience I know the leaders of this school have,” said Tillman.

Parents of 140 students have already applied to send their children to the college prep charter school. Five months before the official start of school, less than a hundred slots remain available.

Over 600 teachers have applied to compete for 13 teaching vacancies at the new school, which will open in the heart of downtown San Bernardino.

Charter schools are tuition-free, public schools that are responsive to students’ needs and are held accountable for improved student achievement. There are 809 charter schools serving over 341,000 students in California.

Joette Spencer-Campbell, president of Concerned African American Parents Alliance commented on the opening of Hardy Brown College Prep. “I feel hopeful. I feel encouraged. I feel wonderful.”

“People want a good education for their children” said Cheryl Brown, president of the San Bernardino Branch NAACP.

Hardy Brown College Prep will open with grades K-3 and 6th, and then grow a grade each year until the school reaches capacity at 485 K-8 students in 2013.

Hardy Brown College Prep is modeled after PS7, a successful school in Sacramento serving predominately African American students.

State Superintendent Jack O’Connell has recognized PS7, ranking it among the state’s top schools.

“With Hardy Brown College Prep, we are replicating the education model we established at PS7 in Sacramento,” says Margaret Fortune, president of the Fortune School of Education. Fortune and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson founded the school in 2003 when she was superintendent of St. HOPE Public Schools. Last year, PS7 scored 873 on the California Academic Performance Index. An 800 score is the state’s goal for all public schools.

“PS7 is witnessing incredible success by implementing five core principles of education achievement -- high expectations, choice and commitment, more time, focus on results and citizenship. We will do the same at Hardy Brown College Prep,” said Fortune.

School organizers say they plan to substantially improve upon the results currently experienced by African American students in the San Bernardino City schools. In 2009, only 12 percent of the city schools’ black eighth graders reached proficiency in Algebra.

“Why does that make a difference?” asked Dina Walker speaking at a recent parent meeting. Walker is a parent of a sixth grader who will attend Hardy Brown College Prep. “Proficiency in Algebra by the eighth grade is one of the main gatekeepers to college prep classes.”

For more information on Hardy Brown College Prep, call 909-522-1916 or attend an enrollment meeting:

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I currently have children at Hardy Brown and I am totally impressed coming from a public school setting. The problem that I do find is that our community was not ready for a school like this and neither were the kids. As parents when children go to school they reflect what is being taught at home and due to some of the comments you can see why. They give alot of homework, classes to long what else do children have to do with thier time but to become more EDUCATED. Nothing at ALL. Lets start looking at the big picture and just say we will settle for whatever instead of the BEST for our CHILDREN.

I don't know what these comments are talking about. This school is excellent. They have time to do their homework at school, so that comment was ridiculous. If you think it's a horrible thing to have your child pushed to work hard in order to reach his/her full potential, then you're right, maybe this school is not for you. I am studying to become a teacher and all of the pedagogy that I have witnessed at this school is beneficial to the students they serve. There are great things being done here.

This school has great intentions but choose a horrible location for a school. Classes are too long and have no playground for your kids. Currently the kids have their physical education in a parking structure ( the same location where a stabbing occurred during school hours. Zero tolerance Haaaaaa ridiculous. Some kids that have behavior problems should not be in this school. Charter Schools are still just a business and when you start a business you can expect not to profit the first couple of years. Hope someone reads this and takes it as positive criticism that can make changes. I really want this school to succeed ,but it starts in the home for these kids. The parents need to be more involved like maybe with their homework. Let the kids out earlier or have the parents come to school from 3 till end of the day. Get Teacher Aids, and tell that principal to be nicer and not tell the kids to "shut up" how rude!!!!!

**This school is doing nothing more than harboring a new generation of far left-wing liberal, militant, wack jobs!!I thought it would be a good school to enroll my son in...Until I asked a precise set of questions and got the full picture of what this school is all about... As a black woman & mother of a young son I don't need this kind of indoctrination being bred into my son it's 2010 our people need to stop playing the race card!!**

We have not scheduled another date as yet - you can get an enrollment package and information prior to the next enrollment meeting by calling 909.522.1916 or pick up at the New Hope Family Life office - I would call prior to going to confirm staff availability ex: staff are at Cal State for the 6th grade boot camp this week

Enrollment meeting for Hardy Brown College Prep is scheduled for Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 6:30 pm at the New Hope Family Life Center, 1505 W. Highland Ave, SB 92411, Super Sixth Graders are also attending Boot Camp at Cal State San Bernardino through Thursday of this week, contact number is 909.522.1916